Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-05-29

|THsAS'w back in the if
GEN. D. H. sTRoTHER- ties, are still well
remembered by many old and middle aged
ladies and gentlemen, and give delight 10
the young reader who burrows into the
old and time stained pages OF the maya
zines.
A modest, retiring man-the author OF
those pages-he has been but little heard
of in the public prints the past dozen
wears, and after a life of interesting events
lives quietly in his old Virginia home-an
artist. an author, a traveller, something OF
a musician, then for five years a soldier In
defense of MS country when all OF bis KIN
dred but one were on the other side, ara
still later a diplomat for a period OF seven
wears, and now aplain West Virginia gentle
man. passing the sunset of his life IN this
quaint old place that has long been 30 deal
to him. He has twice been married, ana
has two children. His eldest Is the VIE
of John Brisban Walker, formerly a Drll-
liant journalist of Washington, now a
wealthy business man OF Denver
Col, and the other an III
terinr son of sixteen years. Mt.
Strother resides with his wife and son IN Il
house that has long been his home. In
speaking of his age and health a lew days
ago. he said: II am bound To believe the
Bible, and am convinced that l was born
about the hour of 1890 o'clock in the
morning, on September PC, 1916, II am
consequently 20 years OF age. weigh lou
pounds in nv summer forgery, walk my
five miles without fatigue, and am not
conscious of any pains, aches or dlscom-
forts whatsoever. The fact being entered
in nv venerated fathers handwriting, 1t
cannot be disputed that l have accom-
plished the three score and ten years allot-
ted to mans life; but the labor and sor-
row. pertaining thereto have not yet taken
hold of me, for at present my days pass IN
cheerful tranquility, never before eSne-
rienced."
Gen. David Hunter StrOther was born In
virginia. His father, who had been an
officer in the war of 1912, was a man OF
great independence of thought, with a
stern, uncomprOmising sense OF duty, ana
was somewhat unhappy over the artistic
tendencies displayed by his only boy. New
ertheless, he sent his son to New York,
where he was taken in charge by Professor
Morse, then a somewhat erratlc artist, al
forwards TO become the famous inventor OF
the telegraph. Later on "A trip to Europe
was made, and four years study IN Rome
and other European countries broadened
the CultHre of the young man and gave
opportunities to a youth naturally OF an
observing turn of mind and prone to phil
osophize on what he saw. Then came a
return to Virginia and a trip to the west
and south, and about this time the first
published sketches. The Hon. John L.
Kennedy, of Baltimore, who was then in
his heyday rs tue author of Horseshoe
Robinson and other then very popular
works, was a warm friend, but undertook
to dissuade his cousin from entering upon
a literary career. But the first numbers of
"The Virginian Canaan very quickly
settled the question of the young authors
talent and by their popularity attested that
his pen and pencil had a charm that few
Others possessed.
In but a few years Porte CrayOn's name
was a household word wherever Hdrper's
Magazine went, and where was that not in
those days? He was their highest paid
contributor, and beloved from one end of
the country to the other for his charm aud
grace. Then came the John Brown thun-
derbolt which tell upon Harper's Ferry.
Porte CrayOn, living near by, was on the
ground within a few hours, and then and
for the weeks which followed sketched the
leading events and philosophical on the
social problems which he was then COM
PEELED to consider. Virginia and tradition
were at his back. Before his face the ques-
ton of whether all men had indeed been
created free and equal, or if not what all
that declaration by his forefathers meant.
The dilettante artist became a changed
nan. Life had assumed a more serious
phase in his own home than he had yet
been called upon TO consider either in Eu-
rope or America. His mind was made up.
He lbeheld the approach m the inevitable
struggle. He was very near the border,
and he organized and equipped at his W
expense q company of his Virginia towns
men, 10 whom he preached the doctrine Of
the Union. But his efforts were useless,
and when the struggle actually came local
preiudices and state pride carried his
carefully drilled contingent into the
Confederate ranks, while their com
mander was obliged to hurry off in
the night to Washington. In the busy
DAYS that followed he found himself on the
staff of Gen. Mcclellan, riding hard during
the day and sitting down on a battlefield
or in a deserted farm house at night TO
write out in extenso the experiences of the
day-many times seiziDg a lull in the hat
tie to draw out his sketch book and put
-. -..n .Ia l. arrnrn- pn.naa nf aha EaII
This was a work which no labor or
fatigue or danger ever caused him to neg
lect, and while his war sketches remain
among the most interesting relics Of that
period, his diary, if given to the public,
would prove among the most valuable con-
tributions to the history of the war.
Upon Gen. McClellan's departure for the
James he went with Pope, and later on
accompanied Gen. Banks to New Orleans
and upon the ill fated Red River expedi-
ton, returning later he became chief Of
staff to his cousin, Gen. David Hunter, in
his campaign up the valley. -
After the war, declaring himself in
search ofguiet and peace, he repaired his
ruined home and sat down under the tran
quill hills and broad spreading trees Of
Berekelv, and was visited from time to
time by his companions Of the war, watch
ing with interest the problems of read ust-
ment. In ISL President Hayes offered
him the consular generalsbip TO Mexico, |
and he found life at the Mexican capital
sufficiently pleasant to devote seven years
there. And finally be is back in his be-
loved WestVirginia. Theaceompanying por-
trait sketch is made from a photograph
taken only a few weeks ago.
GEORGE II. IESOwISE.
Their Business Booming.
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